The captain strode towards the window, which he closed and fastened. He then threw up the shutters. This done, he turned towards the two constables, and said, as he approached the door―― “This way, if you please. It would be idle to prolong this scene. The maid wants to seek repose. She has been kept up later than usual, in consequence of a few visitors we’ve had this evening. You will, therefore, please follow me.” The two policemen obeyed. The master of the house closed the door of the bedroom, and, with a light in one hand and a sword in the other, he led the way into a room below. “Now, gentlemen” (he emphasised this last expression), “since you have taken upon yourselves to enter my premises as trespassers――I cannot call you anything else――I do not desire to part with you without first of all seeing that you search every room in the house.” The constables felt that they had made a great mistake; this fact they were forcibly impressed with, and they were seriously concerned at the issue. “We don’t desire to search――” stammered out one. “I insist!” interrupted the captain. “There is now an imperative necessity for your doing so, and, further than that, I insist as a satisfaction to all parties.” The officers bowed. They were conducted by their guide into one room after the other. It is, perhaps, needless to say that everything was in the same order as when the occupants of the habitation had retired for the night. Nothing was disturbed. There was not the faintest indication of any stranger or robber having entered the premises. “You will, I’m sure, pardon us,” observed one of the policemen. “We feel now that we have been too precepitate; but I hope you will consider, sir, that the reason for our being so was a desire to further the ends of justice. Mistakes will occur with the best and most cautious constable. I trust you will accept our apology, and say no more about this error――for error it most assuredly is.” The captain was choleric, impetuous, but he was not vindictive. His anger passed away, and he was the chivalrous, generous, high-minded officer whom his worst enemies acknowledged to be a gentleman. “Enough!” he observed. “You have been greatly mistaken, and I confess that I was greatly incensed, but that is over now. I am not the man to do anyone an injury for being over zealous in the discharge of what they deem their duty. You are satisfied that there is no robber lurking about here――I am satisfied that you did not mean to give offence; so let the matter be forgotten. Certainly it shall not be made public by me.” “We thank you, sir, most sincerely for your kindness and consideration,” exclaimed both constables. “We thank you again and again.” The gallant officer unbarred the front door of his habitation, bowed courteously to his companions, who returned the salutation, and passed into the house.